Trees and shrubs growing too close to electrical lines can be especially hazardous during severe weather. Here, Little River lineman Cruse Smith works to restore power after the crippling ice storm in January.
Trees play crucial roles in our lives and the environment. They produce oxygen, sequester carbon dioxide, and provide shade. They beautify our landscapes and generally make life more enjoyable.
Trees growing in the wrong place, however, can be trouble for energy lines, potentially causing fires, electrical hazards, and power outages. If tree limbs come in contact with an overhead line, Little River’s electrical system is designed to respond to prevent a potential outage. This means members in the affected area may experience a blink or an outage until that limb is cleared.
Little River strives to provide reliable, uninterrupted service to every member. Our proactive tree trimming program helps reduce the potential for outages. But it’s important that you do your part to keep any vegetation on your property trimmed and away from nearby lines and transformers. When planting trees or shrubs, keep these guidelines in mind:
- The safest distance to plant trees is at least 20 feet from power lines. However, if planting within that range is unavoidable, use only shrubs and small trees that reach a mature height of 15 feet or less and shrubs.
- Trees that reach up to 40 feet when mature should be at least 25 feet away from power lines. Larger trees should be at least 50 feet away.
- If there is an underground transformer (green box) nearby, keep shrubs at least 10 feet away from the doors and 4 feet away from the sides. Planting shrubs too close to underground transformers prevents our technicians from being able to access the box.
If you’re planning a home improvement project, planting a tree, or installing a fence or deck, call 811 first so underground lines and pipes can be marked. This is the best way to protect yourself and others. Call 811 or make a request online (sc811.com) two or three days before you plan to start a project. There is no charge for this service.
When you follow these planting and distance guidelines, you are helping to ensure co-op lines are safe and reliable.
